Showcase having interconnected closure and tray



Aug- 7, 1951 Fn-M. REsslNGER L 2,563,745

-sHowcAsE HAVING INTERCONNECTED cLosURE AND TRAY.

Filed July 28, 1945 4 sheets-sheet 1 1 i 4 llllA In" u I 232 beizar fnd JK. j-Zass nger lA111111 .17, 1951 P. IM. RESSINGER 2,563,746

SHOWCASE HAVING INTERCONNECTED CLOSURE AND TRAY F1164 July 28, 1945 4 sheets-s115131 2 We' 2. .52 I 60 y f l? 60 .f2 ol" o o o o 0 o o o o o o o o o o i 114/ ,1 55 k// I 57/ ,l//l

7 #fg l Q13 f7 l g 1 V /g 3 79 ,Add-J f6 7 /g l l0 I 78 0 G 1 I I G r Q nlm/J/ 1| JINI/0 N @l A it j l o I! yl /f HIL, I E 50 y f Hf aL/f4 )IM M4 X1k/' .1H C' 'Iz/UQWQ/ Jw! Jessa'gef SHOWCASE HAVING INTERCONNECTED cLosURE AND TRAY Filed July 28. 1945 7, 1951 P.1M. REsslNGER 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 P. M. REsslNGl-:R 2,563,746 SHOWCASE HAVING INTERCONNECTED cLosURE AND TRAY Filed July 28, 1945 Aug. ,7, 1951 .4 sheets-sheet 4' Ly-@MLM Patented ug. 7, 1 951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE display tray' mechanism.

Another purpose is to provide improved shelf supporting means in con-neetion with a display case.

Another purpose is to provide an improved combined display and storage assembly.

Other purposes Awill appear from time to time in the course ef the spe'ciiioation and claims.

A The invention islillustrated more or less dia= grammatically in the accompanying drawings, wherein: I

Figure l is a front perspeetive;

Figure 2 is a rear perspective;

Figure 3 is a seetion on the* line 3-2-3- of` Fig`= ure 42;

Figure 4 is a setion on an enlarged scale on. the line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure is a detailed section; y

Figure 6 is a section o'n the line 6-'6 offFig'-` ure 3g Figure 7 is: a` section on an enlarged scale einv the line li-T offFigiiii Grand Figure 8 isa seetieri'taleri at' line 82:-8 of Fig-v Like parts are indieated byA like siy'x'r1li'l`s'l throughout the 'specification and drawings.

Referring to the drawings" I indicates a basez element which may rest upon any suitable sur=` fase such as the iioor ofthe room ini whiel the 'unit is 'pcisitioriedl-` Resting upon the base and preferably removably seeured thereto, are arden#- A,- and two side assemblies' generally indicated B and C. Spanning the side assemblies and removably seeured thereto, is a top orroef mem;-

bei generally ridoated as D. It Will be under* to the assembly` A for example by the bolts or sorews 'rldieatei at 2; Whoh may pass' through any' suitable intermediate spacing members or' frames, indica-ted for example at 3 in Fi'gure 3. ltwil-l be observed that the top of the assembly (Cl. S12-117) provided between the topof the assembly A andthe bottom of the cross member D. Re; terrina te the assembly -A, it is shown as includ'- in'g a lower storage portion' and ari upper show oase portion, The storage portion :may be bounded by sidewalls 4 and 5, a bottom wall 3, and a top wall l. Intermediate horizontal partitions-'i` and 9 may be employed to denne ster; age spaeeswhieh are rearwardly open. I illusL trate for example a series 'of drawers Ill between the partitions 'l and 8 and aV series of larger draw; ers Ili between the partitions 8 and 9. The space below the partitions may'serve as a storage space threuh'- which access may be had through slid; ing Heers I2.

The show oase: portion of the assembly A has transparent front, sideV and top walls as indi; cated atV I4; l5 and I6; Acess is had through the' rear; as' by the door or doors lll pivot'ed -attheir lower edges' as at i8 andl provided with any suitable looking or seeuring means l for holding tl'iel'ill iti the" looked rflill'li'lie position of FigL iire 6. It `willbe noted'as inFigure 6 that the top partition 'l is of substantial thokness. It lsfpro-l Vileeltw'ith a Stink guiding element in the form offa` erianhel'Z having a cover' plate 2| provided with a Slot substantially' less in Width than the' eh'anriet 20 but having arr opening 23, inter'- mediateits ends,Y ofsubstantially the same width as the channel. 2'4 enerally indicates a goods suppertwhich is pivotecl` tot the rear door Il. I illustrate for etamplea lug or lugs 25, it` its forward end is provided a downwardly extending` lug or arm 2Q carrying a cross member 2l which carries a` pivot pin 28 onV the end of which' are mounted rollers 29; It will be: observed that, ex-V ept that when therollers 29 and the cross members 2.7- are aligned with the opening 23 the sup'- port 24 eanno't be upwardly withdrawn from thep-ar'titin 'le The rollers 29v eonstitute support-'- ing means for the forward downward end of the shelf 24.` As a means for 4seeurirlg the shelf 24 to the door I7 I employ braohets 30 which have associated with them` springs 3l on the' ends of which are inwardly eitending pins 32 adaptedl to engage` any' suitable apertures in the lug er lugs 251. of uiespringsse an end por:

tion 33 adapted for manual operation whereby,

by outward ii'exur of the springs 3| the pins 32S may be withdrawn and the shelf` struoture 2l removed from" the door l1. The support may carry any suitable cross members 35 uponwhieh the goods to be displayed, suoli as trays 36 iriayAV oeremovabiy positioned; y

It will te rietf that i-` the funniie' positie of Figure 6 the weight of the tray, pivoting about the wheels 29, and directed against the inner end of the brackets 30, is eiective to bias the door l1 toward closed position even though the lock I9 is released. However, when the door is moved to the open or dotted line -position of Figure 6b land the cross piece 21 with the opening 23 and lifting upwardly on the member 24.

An additional display or storage area is illustrated in the front section of the assembly A below the show case portion. I illustrate for example front wall portions 4U, 4|, each with any suitable lock 42, 43. A single transparent panel 44 may be employed which can be slid in either direction, to give access to all parts of any suitable shelf structure or structures 45. The panel may be locked in its central or closed position by actuation of the two locks 42, 43. The release of either lock will permit the panel to be moved in one direction, and the release of both locks will permit the panel to be moved in either direction. `The display area above described may be illuminated by any suitable light souce diagrammatically indicated as at 46 in Figure 6.

The side display members or assemblies B and C each include a lower storage portion 50 resting directly upon the base I. The storage portions may have any suitable rear access doors I. I iind it convenient to have the storage portions 5U the same height as the storage portion of the central assembly A. Above each storage portion ls a display portion which includes roofs or covers 52 upon which the transverse assembly D is removably mounted. Vertical side frame members or mullions 53 are employed, which serve, with the rear frame members 54, to support shelves 55 mounted by any suitable adjusting securing pins or members 5B. The sides of the display members, as at 5l, may be constituted by members of plate glass or other suitable transparent material. I iind it desirable to employ a front member 58 having curved corners 59, the front member being of Lucite or other suitable plastic transparent material. The inner edges of the Lucite panels are received in recesses in the mullions 53 which, therefore, will perform the double function of serving as shelf supports and as means for joining the opposed edges of the panels of transparent material. The mullions 53 may be provided with a plurality of apertures 53a adapted to receive the shelf supporting .pins 56 at a variety of different elevations. The display portions of the assemblies B and C may have any suitable rear access doors 65. l

The top cross assembly D may serve as an illuminating means for the goods displayed. It includes end members 5U which carry an upwardly enlarged central member 6I This central member serves as an enclosure for any suitable light source diagrammatically indicated as at 62. The member 6| may have a front pane 63 of transparent or translucent or `partly transparent material. It may carry for example any suitable descriptive lettering or trademark. The lower surface of the member 6l may also be transparent or translucent, in order that the light source 62 may be employed to direct light upon the goods displayed within theshow case or disf f f 2,563,746

the size, shape, number and disposition of parts without departing from the spirit of my invention. I therefore wish my description and drawings to .be taken as in a broad sense illustrative or diagrammatic, rather than as limiting me to my precise showing.

, I claim:

l. In a vdisplay device, a display case having transparent walls and a rear closure, said rear closure being pivoted for rotation about a horizontal axis adjacent its lower edge, said case having a bottom wall provided with a guiding channel generally perpendicular to the rear closure when the closure is in closing position, a display support mounted within said display case and having a forward supporting guide extending into and slidable along said channel, said channel having a slotted cover, the slot of said cover being of less width than the width of the supporting guide, said slot having an enlarged portion of a width greater than that of said guide and a hinge connection between said rear closure and the rear portion of said support.

2. In a display device, a display case having transparent walls and a rear closure, said rear closure being pivoted for rotation about a horizontal axis adjacent its lower edge, said case having a bottom wall provided with a guiding channel generally perpendicular to the rear closure when the closure is in closing position, a display support mounted within said display case and having a forward supporting guide extending into and slidable along said channel, said channel having a slotted cover, the slot of said cover being of` less width than-the width of the supporting guide, and having an enlarged portion of greater width than said guide, and a removable hinge connection Vbetween said rear closure and the rear portion of said support.

3. In a display device, a display case having ,transparent walls and a rear closure, said rear closure being pivoted for rotation about a horizontal axis adjacent its lower edge, said case having a bottom wall provided with a guiding channel generally perpendicular to the rear closure when the closure is in closing position, a display support mounted within said display case and having a forward supporting guide'extending into and slidable along said channel, said channel having a slotted cover, the slot of said cover being of less width than the width of the supporting guide, and having an enlarged portion of greater width than said guide, and a removable hinge connection beween said rear closure and the rear portion of said support, including a bracket extending iorwardly from said rear closure at a level substantially above its horizontal axis.

4. In a displayV device, a display case having transparent walls and a rear closure, said rear closure being pivoted for rotation about a horizontal axis adjacent its lower edge, said case having a bottom wall provided wih a guiding channel generally perpendicular to the rear closure when the closure is in closing position, a display support mounted within said display case and having a forward supporting guide extending into and slidable along said channel, said channel having a slotted cover, the slot of said cover being of less width than the width of the supporting guide, and having an enlarged portion of greater width than said guide, and a removable hinge connection between said rear closure and the rear portion of said support, including a bracket extending forwardly from said rear closure at a level substantially above its horizontal axis, a hinge element on said support and an interpenetrating pin connection between said bracket and said hinge element.

5. In a display device, a display case having transparent walls and a rear closure, said rear closure being pivoted for rotation about a horizontal axis adjacent its lower edge, said case having a bottom wall provided with a guiding channel generally perpendicular to the rear closure when the closure is in closing position, a display support mounted within said display case and having a forward supporting guide extending into and slidable along said channel, said channel having a slotted cover, the slot of said cover being of less width than the width of the supporting guide, and having an enlarged portion of greater width than said guide, and a removable hinge connection between said rear closure and the rear portion of said support, including a bracket extending forwardly from said rear closure at a level substantially above its horizontal axis, a hinge element on said support and an interpenetrating pin connection between said bracket and said hinge element, said connection including a spring mounted on said bracket and a pin on said spring, said spring being adapted for manual ilexure to withdraw the pin.

6. In a display device, a showcase having transparent front and top walls, side walls and a bottom member, a rear closure for said showcase mounted along its lower edge for rotation about a horizontal axis generally parallel with the front of the showcase, a display tray in said showcase, forwardly supported on the bottom of the showcase and removably hinged, at its rear, to said rear closure and a guiding connection interposed between the forward portion of said tray and the bottom member of said showcase, adapted, by means of a guiding channel containing an opening spaced a predetermined distance along said guiding channel, to prevent upward displacement of said tray when said rear closure is in generally upright, closed position, and adapted, by reason of the aforesaid guiding channel, to permit upward removal of the forward portion of said tray when said tray has been rearwardly withdrawn a predetermined distance, during the rotation of said closure toward open position.

7. In a display device, a showcase having transparent front and top walls, side walls and a bottom member, a rear closure for said showcase mounted along its lower edge for rotation about a horizontal axis generally parallel with the front of the showcase, a display tray in said showcase, forwardly supported on the bottom of the showcase and removably hinged, at its rear, to said rear closure and a guiding connection interposed between the forward portion of said tray and the bottom member of said showcase, adapted, by means of a guiding channel containing an opening spaced a predetermined distance along said guiding channel, to prevent upward displacement of said tray when said rear closure is in generally upright, `closed position, and adapted, by means of the aforesaid guiding channel, to permit upward removal of the forward portion of said tray when said tray has been rearwardly withdrawn a predetermined distance, during the rotation of said closure toward open position, said guiding connection including means for preventing upward withdrawal of the forward portion of said tray when the rear closure is in fully open position.

8. In a display device, a showcase having transparent front and top walls, side walls and a bottom member, a rear closure for said showcase, mounted along its lower edge for rotation about a horizontal axis generally parallel with the front of the showcase, a display tray in said showcase, forwardly supported on the bottom of the showcase and removably hinged, at its rear, to said rear closure, intermediate the top and bottom of the closure, and a guiding connection interposed between the forward portion of said tray and the bottom member of said showcase, said guiding connection including a laterally extended supporting part positioned below the forward end of the tray, the upper surface of the showcase having a slotted receiving element positioned below the tray and adapted to receive said supporting part, the slot of said receiving element being of less width than said supporting part, whereby said guiding connection is adapted to prevent unintended upward displacement of the forward end of the tray.

PAUL M. RESSINGER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 801,880 Kauffman Oct. 17, 1905 812,713 Zeigler Feb. 13, 1906 943,350 Holden Dec. 14, 1909 1,584,603 Brazzil May 11, 1926 1,723,027 Fraley Aug. 6, 1929 2,286,830 Ressinger June 16, '1942 2,343,763 Fridolph Mar.. 7, 1944 

